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Controls on hydrocarbon accumulation in Glauconitic sandstone, suffield heavy oil sands, Southern Alberta

Journal Article · · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6160444
Hydrocarbon distribution in the Lower Cretaceous Glauconitic sandstone in the Suffield area of southeastern Alberta is controlled by three factors: sedimentology, structure, and mineralogy. The Glauconitic sandstone consists of six lithological facies interpreted to represent the lower-middle shoreface, middle shoreface, upper shoreface-foreshore, backshore, marsh, and lagoonal zones of a progradational, barrier-island system. Sediment deposited in the foreshore zone (laminated sandstone facies) has the best reservoir qualities: good porosity, low clay content, and good lateral continuity. The bioturbated, argillaceous sandstone, deposited in the backshore zone, has poor reservoir qualities: low porosity and high clay content with only isolated porous zones. Tidal inlet and/or later stage fluvial channel deposits cutting through the sandstone trend form discontinuities in the reservoir. The hydrocarbon trapping mechanism is stratigraphic but with some structural influence. Deep faults, active during the deposition of upper Mannville sediments, caused differential subsidence and local thickening of sedment.
Research Organization:
Alberta Geological Survey, 4445 Calgary Trail South, Edmonton, Alberta
OSTI ID:
6160444
Journal Information:
Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Vol. 68:8; ISSN AAPGB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English